Living with and caring for an older parent, in-law, or other aging family member is very common. As the body ages, flexibility, mobility, independence, and memory can be at risk, requiring care, patience, and understanding from caregivers and family members. Being a family member and caregiver can be challenging, as you have to do what’s best for yourself and your loved one. There are many successful ways to care for yourself, your home, and your older loved one all at once.
Research Their Condition
If your older loved one has a particular health condition, you can better understand each other if you research it. Dementia conditions like Alzheimer’s can present a specific set of symptoms, such as agitation, memory loss, confusion, and personality changes that can help provide context for certain behaviors. Older adults are more susceptible to conditions like arthritis, autoimmune conditions, disabilities, or cancer. Researching what causes these conditions and their symptoms can help you provide better care.
Provide Healthcare
Due to age or health conditions, older adults typically need more frequent healthcare visits. Providing adequate transportation and access to these doctor visits, including emergency and mental health appointments, is ideal. At home, ensure they aren’t ailing from any specific issue or pain and do what you can to ease symptoms when necessary.
Hire Help
Caring for people is tough, especially when working or providing for your family (or both!) Hiring a home health aide, nurse, or caregiver when you’re away or need an extra hand is normal and can benefit everyone involved. Don’t be afraid to hire help during the short or long term. Your older loved one will receive more round-the-clock care, and you can take breaks or focus on other tasks.
Encourage Exercise
Physical fitness can relieve stress, pain, and boredom. Exercise is vital for everyone, particularly older adults, to provide strength, mobility, and flexibility. Helpful exercises for seniors involve walking, swimming, or gardening. If your loved one is disabled, their range of movement may be limited, so you may have to improvise safe exercises. You can also hire a physical therapist to help provide efficient and practical exercises.
Supervise Outdoor Time
Older adults may have conditions or medication side effects that can lead to confusion or heat stroke, making outside time dangerous quickly. While time outdoors can be enriching and helpful, always supervise your older loved one’s outdoor activities to ensure safety and that they don’t get lost. Ensure they don’t have access to car keys if they cannot drive.
Get a Home Security System
Most home security systems will alert you if an exterior door or window opens. Suppose you can’t supervise your loved one due to work or other circumstances. In that case, a home security system can provide peace of mind and allow you to take quick action if safety issues are prevalent, like burglary or wandering.
Provide Timely Medications
Seniors often need medication to manage a plethora of conditions, from high blood pressure to cancer. Missed medications can have drastic consequences, and some may even come with withdrawal symptoms. You’ll want to ensure your loved one takes medications on time according to their prescription. Some seniors get picky about medication, so it may be a challenge to encourage timely dosage.
‘Senior-Proof’ Your Home
Older people may have trouble with flexibility or balance, so you must accommodate this in decor and living arrangements. To make bathing more accessible, add safety railings, non-slip mats, and benches or chairs to bathtubs. Also, make sure staircases and steps have working railings. Ensure lighting is easy to access and bright enough to see the floor and any other furniture that can increase fall risks. Attach rugs to the floor so they don’t create trip hazards. Electrical cords should be out of the way, such as close to the wall or underneath furniture. Reduce clutter and ensure there are clear paths throughout the home. You can even change doorknobs to handles to make them easier to grip.
Prepare Healthy Meals and Snacks
Meal prep can save you and your family a lot of time. Knowing you’re ready to portion out a quick, healthy meal can also give you peace of mind. Ensure meals and snacks are accessible to aging loved ones and include healthy options to avoid weight gain, malnutrition, or cholesterol problems. Some older adults may have trouble chewing tough foods, so make sure meals are tender and soft.
Consider a Care Facility
Caring for someone’s needs and health extensively is a lot of work, especially if you have kids to worry about. It can be beneficial to recognize when you cannot provide adequate or safe care for an older adult because of work, childcare, or other issues. When needed, you should consider and discuss a retirement community, nursing home, or care facility. Before committing, you can thoroughly shop around and vet any care facility to ensure your loved one is safe and well cared for. If you’re worried about safety or neglect, you can always hire a nursing home abuse lawyer in worst-case scenarios to help fight for your loved one’s rights. However, studying reviews, touring facilities, and conducting thorough interviews can mitigate the risk of harm in a care facility.
Conclusion
Caring for an aging loved one at home is tough. You’ll need to ensure there aren’t trip hazards or health concerns. You must supervise seniors to prevent falls, wandering, medication side effects, or health concerns. Research their condition to provide adequate care and medical visits when necessary. Exercise and healthy foods can help maintain adequate nutrition and muscle strength. Don’t be afraid to hire help; you may need to consider a senior community if needed.
Interlinking Opportunities
From (https://www.reasonstoskipthehousework.com/top-8-quick-and-easy-cleaning-hacks-for-a-bright-home/) with the anchor decluttering for aging loved ones
From (https://www.reasonstoskipthehousework.com/time-management-hacks-for-busy-people-when-skipping-housework-is-the-smart-choice/) with the anchor caring for a senior family member